"HBO will kick off coverage of Inauguration Week with an exclusive Sunday, Jan. 18, telecast of the star-studded opening ceremony, two days before the saturation coverage of President Barack Obama's inauguration begins in earnest.

"In 1993, HBO paid $1.5 million to the Presidential Inaugural Committee to exclusively televise Bill Clinton's kickoff from the Lincoln Memorial, something that annoyed non-HBO subscribers who weren't able to watch the concert by Bob Dylan and Diana Ross.

"This time around, HBO -- which has been awarded the rights for an undisclosed sum -- is planning to offer the event free to cable and satellite subscribers, regardless of whether they have the pay channel or not. The entertainment lineup for the event, which may also be streamed, hasn't yet been announced, but both Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are scheduled to attend."

Meanwhile, the other networks -- all of them want in on the event -- will be scheduling their own coverage of the actual inauguration ceremony. Regardless of where you surf, you won't be able to avoid the coverage. CBS will have Katie Couric anchoring a one-hour special about the first few hours of Obama's term. ABC and NBC also will have specials.